The American Interest Magazine has publish a thorough analysis of the effect the crumbling of Syria will l likely have on the Kurds in Syria,
Iraq, Iran, and Turkey; and on the Shia government of Iraq.
Spinoff: The Syrian Crisis and the Future of Iraq - Henri J. Barkey - The American Interest Magazine.
The full article is reproduced after the jump. The article's conclusions are not hopeful, and well worth considering.
Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq:
The article is comprehensive in its scope, with two curious omissions:
∼ Russia is not mentioned and Russia's interests are central, but perhaps not to the focus of the article.
∼ Egypt's Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa's fatwa declaring the schism between Shia and Sunni to be over is not mentioned; and much is made in the article of Shia-Sunni enmity.Perhaps Grand Mufti Gomaa's fatwas are effective only in Egypt.
A sentence in the article, not explained, rushes me to google to find out what it's about:
Turcoman groups have closely aligned themselves with Turkey and have occasionally entangled Turkish authorities in their dangerous plans.
If you know who the Turcoman groups are and what dangerous plans they have devised, tell.
Images, not intended to be representative, follow:
Kurds in Iraq:
Erbil, Kurdish Region, Iraq, Luis Dafos, Photographer
Erbil street Stars and Stripes
Peshmerga, a powerful military force
for the Iraqi Kurds. Shawn Baldwin
Golden Era for Iraqi Kurdistan
Football in the small Kurdish town of Salahdin al-Massif.
Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq:
In 1921, England and France promise the Kurds
a united Kurdistan
Thy broke their promise.
Kurds have not forgotten nor forgiven.
Many Kurds still intend for there to be
a United Kurdistan.
Kurds in Syria:
Kurds in Turkey:
Kurds in Iran (you will detect a bias on my part):
Said to be Kurds hanged by Iranians,
but blogged so often I can't confirm it.
Before getting a self-righteous feeling,
remember indefinite detention in solitary confinement at
Pelican Bay prison in California
which drives men insane.
There's worse things
than hanging. . . .
Kurdish farmers in Iran
Bag dad scenes
"Handcuffed suspects seen in the
state Terrorist Combat and Organized Crime department
in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012.
Iraqi officials say they have arrested a ring of insurgents
allegedly involved in attacks in Baghdad,
the 21-person cell is linked to the
outlawed Baath party"
A famous hotel across the river. Panoramio
The result of a Bagdad suicide bomb. Worldnews.com
An Iraqi football victory over South Korea. Reuters
Here's the article:
